Towing MPG

[Brucec]

Well towing my 13,600 pound 5th only getting 9.5 to 10 MPG what are you all getting??

Only have 11,000 miles on the truck.

[Vette Racer]

Towing combined 26k I got an avg for 2100 mi of 8.6mpg. Had a low of 6.3 and a high of 9.8.

[DogDays]

Towing I get between 11-13 mpg, depending on the hills. But then I also have only a 2WD.
Unloaded back and forth to work am at a consistent 20-21 mpg. Loving it!!! :D :D :D

[mtomac]

16,000# - 19000# trailer & tractors 23,000# - 26,000# combined getting 9-11 mpg mostly highway 65-75mph w/juice on level 2.

Getting 17-21 empty 65-80mph w/juice on level 1. Speed, driving style and around town stop & go driving cuts into the mileage.

[ 08-08-2002: Message edited by: Micheal Tomac ]</p>

[Mike Colville]

Towing ~6000 lb trailer... 13-14 mpg.

[markson]

13,500# Fifth Wheel = 9 to 11 mpg, depending on speed, wind, hills, etc...I think this mileage is a result of the large profile these trailers have, which creates a lot of air resistence...My girlfriend followed me (drafting) in another DMAX unloaded and was getting 21 to 24 mpg...It really sucks to only have approx. 200 miles of range with the tiny fuel tank on the short beds...Makes carrying extra fuel and planning cross-country trips mandatory!!

[billnourse]

Brucec,

I get between 10.5 and 11.5 grossed at 19,500, depending on speed and terrain. I also use a 1999 Dodge 3500 quadcab 4x4 and I get the same with it.

From most of the posts I've read, this is pretty close to norm for all three of the diesels with the load you are talking. Some are slightly higher and some slightly lower. Then there are the extremes from people who are either BSing, or are not able to properly figure mileage. There was one guy on a different forum that was claiming 16 mpg with 10,000 lbs of livestock at 75 mph with a CTD. Maybe he was going down hill both ways.

Bill

[bora]

Towing 8500# Haulmark Elite II trailer, I get
12.5 -13 mpg on flat land, going against the wind, uphill 10-11.

Bora

[JEBar]

towing (Juice Level 2 in Tow/haul) 11.5 - 13 mpg depending on load, speed and lay of the land ... most towing done on interstate at 60-65 mph :cool: empty mostly city (Juice Level 4) 15-17 and cruising 17-19+ (have never hit 20 mpg) :eek:

[denverdale]

Towing #8500 from Denver up to West of Fairplay gong from 5000 ft to 9500 ft. pushed it hard to see how it would do on first tow and got 10.5 MPG. I was rather pleased. My old truck ('99 GMC 2500 with 7.4L gas and 4:10 gears) got 8 mpg on same run.
Denverdale

[Dale_S]

Just returned from Lake George NY towing #12500 5th wheel. Got 10.5 mpg. Wish I had a bigger tank. Plenty of power on the hills.

Dale_S

[dmaxster]

TOWING OF AN AVERAGE 22,500 GVWR...40FT RACE CAR HAULER LOADED DOWN....KINGPIN WEIGHT OF 5500 LBS ON AN AVERAGE OF 400 TO 450 MILES A WEEKEND AVARAGED OUT AROUND 9.5-10.5 DPENDING ON TRAFFIC AND MY BIG LEAD FOOT....AVERAGED 4 TO 5 PEOPLE IN THE CAB. TRAILER AXELS WERE 11080 AND THE DRIVE AXEL WAS 7160 AND STEER AXLE WAS 4260....THIS TRUCK PULLED BEAUTIFUL.....YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE TRAILER WAS THERE...Love it...I have 32254 miles on as of now and no problems other than the infamous tires&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
:cool:

[ 08-08-2002: Message edited by: dmaxster ]</p>

[MNBowTie]

I have kept track of every mile and every gallon since new! GCVW 17,500 LBS. pulling a 5th wheel

Non towing: = 6,798 miles, Fuel 402.307

AVG =16.90 Best Tank = 22.2 Worst Tank = 12.95

Towing: = 4,477 miles, Fuel 383.543

AVG = 11.67 Best= 13.24 Worst= 9.14

:D :D :D

[MaxDMax]

I have been pulling a 13,500# 5th wheel toy box trailer for about 10,000 miles total since the Feb 02. This puts me within 1,000lbs of the GCVW. I have gotten between 9.5 and 10 mpg since day one. I always tow with the Juice on level 2 with tow haul on. Last week I went on vacation total miles 1,440, my average MPG was between 9.5 to 10 mpg. This was driving from East Ky. through Virginia up to Ocean City Maryland and back. I drove about 10 miles over the posted speed limit anywhere possible. Given the awesome power of this truck, I am satisfied with these numbers.

[Mike Colville]

Are you guys towing with the tow haul 100% on? I often toggle t/h off then on so that it'll jump into 5th...do you think this improves mileage? Does everyone do this? Thanks!

[uncle t]

DMaxster
When you are joshing you are supposed to put a :D on your post. When you are really joshing you should add a few :D :D :D

If you are really pullin that kind of weight with a 2500HD, let me know where you are gonna be so I can stay behind you. :D

[ 08-09-2002: Message edited by: uncle t ]</p>

[zrone]

Towing a 15,000lb fifth wheel the worst I saw was 8.5 into a fierce headwind. The best was 11 with the cruise on no hills. I have not had a chance to see if the Juice makes any diference. The Transfer Flow 56 gallon tank makes a big difference in the number of fuel stops I have to make.

[thechevyhdman]

Talked to a guy yesterday, and this isnt my brother in laws' wifes sister deal, towed 25,000 GCW and reported 11 MPG. Geez guys my friends Pstroke cant even get 14 mpg empty. I tow a small landscape trailer in town that ways maybe 1.5 tons and I still get over 15. Remember some big trucks empty or full will get only a 1.5mpg difference between empty and full And they only average 6 miles a gallon, dont look a gift horse in the mouth. there driving trucks with double the torque as ours only maybe 200 more hp, but double our loads 40,000 max load on a trailer, I personally think were doing, especially you guys towing alot more than me perfectly fine

[Brucec]

Yes I know what you mean 26gal tank sucks, may look into a replacement saw one that replaces your factory tank gives you 46 gal but cost $ 900.00 that's lot's of diesel fuel.

May look into some options though.

[NEW2DMAX]

Yes I know what you mean, do need a larger tank. Just got back from the Colorado mountains pulled a 6,000# bumper pull travel trailer, and the the bed of the truck loaded with a 450# arctic cat 4 wheeler and 260# dirt bike, never saw any better than 11 mpg tow/haul mode on 100% of the time. Unloaded 50%/50% city/hyw will ave. 16.5 mpg. Shortbed crewcab 4x4 2500HD :cool:

[MaxDMax]

Mike Colville,
I do occasionally cycle the tow haul off and on; at times when going up a hill and the grade lessens the trans will wants to stay in 4th. However with the juice box even with a 13,000lbs 5th wheel this is a rare occasion. For the most part it drops to 5th fine. As for running with the tow haul off for any period of time, I find that my transmission temperatures increase quickly. With my tow haul on the temp runs 180 to 190 and rarely do I ever see 200. If I forget to turn it on from a stop and don't notice it for a few minutes, I see the trans temps go to 210 or higher. Also the EGTs are higher. What do others here see on your D-Max's?

[Tractorhauler]

Bruce,

I have just recently noticed an improvement in my mileage. I have 18K with juice. My 8000 lb. 5th&lt;I got 12.5 - 13.5 in the Colorado Rockies, over the divide twice and up to Leadville. Lots of climbing. Towing 16K when truck was just broke in I got 9 - 11 mpg.
Unloaded this weekend I got 22.4 on an interstate trip of 500 miles. That is just fine with me.
I use juice on #2 when towing and #1 on the road when I am not around any D##$E or F**D's

Hope this helps,,
Mark

[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: Tractor hauler ]</p>

[RedDog1]

Well you guys are killing me empty. I get 12mpg empty. When I tow it is between 21500lbs and about 26500lbs gross combination. I have seen a best of 8.32mpg and a low of 6mpg.

After seeing some of the diesels numbers, mine ain't bad smile.gif This is with a gasser :eek RedDog

[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: RedDog ]

[ 08-12-2002: Message edited by: RedDog ]</p>

[WayCoolKennel]

Haven't logged many miles towing yet.. but did tow about 600 miles with my 22' Gooseneck @ 10K lbs or so horses and all..

Got 11.3 MPG w/tow haul enabled.. have 4k miles on the truck...

I got 9.5-10 w/ my 99 PSD for whatever that's worth.. and the Dmax out pulls it by quite a bit..

FWIW,

[dmaxster]

ucleT yes I am actually pulling all that weight.... :D We have a 40' enclosed racecar hauler...it's a Haulmark and the series is the Edge ...it's really nice....microwave and pizza oven in her.....there really isn't much we don't have in it.....you can't really aford to be so far away an not have all the gear you know....well I could always show the weigh ticket if neeed be.... :D this thing is awesome...... :cool: dmaxster

[Maxxheadroom]

FWIW I have been getting 13.5 towing a fully loaded 3 horse X/tall trailer on flat ground with T/H engaged full time...get 17.5-19 average no load, best of 21 in the mountains when I brought the truck home from Montana...my truck is new with 5000 miles on it, however a close friend of mine gets 14.5 mpg at best with no load at all keeping clear concise records at every fillup...maybe his calculator needs a tune up!!! smile.gif

[Bobcat698]

Hey Dmaxster, are you coming through Amherst any time soon, you know, the dinky little town between Stevens Point & Waupaca on Highway 10?
I'd like to see that rig.

Let me know.

We've got a Western Store here in Amherst.

Bobcat698

[dmaxster]

I am in Amherst every weekend....we stay by the Wisz racing boys.....they are just off of D just south of Q about one mile....so yeah you can see the rig......I don't pull the trailer too much anymore. because the owner of the car and trailer had bought a Ford semi/motor home, but if your interested you see my truck and then the trailer....I have pics of it hooked up together.....if you'd like more mail me madenterprises@itol.com thanks dmaxster :cool: